New York City's Drama Book Shop closes its doors at its longtime home on 40th Street January 20, shutting only temporarily before re-opening in a new location in the fall. After recent rent hikes, the beloved institution was under threat of shuttering permanently—until longtime fan of the store Lin-Manuel Miranda, among others, stepped in to purchase it.
The contents of the 100-year-old store (which was awarded a special Tony Award in 2011) will go into storage for a few months while the new owners look for and build a new store. The store will close at 6 PM on January 20 and will be open from noon.
Earlier this month, the Drama Book Shop was purchased by Miranda, Hamilton director Thomas Kail, Hamilton lead producer Jeffrey Seller, and Hamilton landlord James L. Nederlander (the Nederlander Organization owns the Richard Rodgers Theatre, the Broadway home to Hamilton). The quartet is currently working with the City of New York to find an affordable space for the store.
In its final weeks, the shop has welcomed the theatre community to share their memories of the store, covering the walls in personal notes. Many have been shared on social media.
A new location for The Drama Book Shop will be announced in the coming months.
